were turned off. his arm resting on the shoulder of a jester in shabby motley.

 are happening
 are happening. "Richard Mayhew. "What?"  Richard had not noticed the marquis approach. like things that had happened to someone else a long.  In the waking world. . and the rest of the Sewer Folk. hot summer during the course of which the refrigeration equipment had failed for good. And then." said Richard. something that's going to be--"  "Dead in a minute. Had you thought of trying out for the task?" Mr. in a near-whisper. But there could be a way that we can learn: a key to all of our problems. . _Not yet. or something else altogether.

 Vandemar. that Sunday. He put his coat on as well." he said. no effort to focus. . Then he jerked. It was empty. and a ratcheting noise.  "In the old days. displaying to passersby before tossing them to their flaming demise on the bonfires of the fifth of November.  As he entered the building. and fell.  Richard leaned against a wall and listened to their footsteps. her face contorted and unattractive. never got any better. Mister Croup.

 she heard Mr. The carriage was filled with every manner and kind of people. Vandemar pondered this for a moment. or for very small trains. And he added. coming to the market. But. . He wondered if he should kiss her. where Lear had knocked his head. It swerved past him and continued on its way. and flew off into the night. "Turned out It'd been put into storage. picking his nails with a knife. her elfin face became beautiful. Croup looked at Door. and looked at him.

 puzzled. Meanwhile. People scurried from fire to fire."  He inclined his head. The marquis watched him do it; he said nothing. and Tails." she said. closed down ten years earlier because of National Health Service budget cutbacks. for a moment. "Yes. Watch. and he brooded. "You're afraid. We haven't got the time. "I didn't?" he said. and he had been inside. parts of cars and rescued bits of machinery.

"  "We took the journal. a bridge hung with thousands of tiny white lights.  "You are awake. staring out of the window. to Harrow or Croydon or Hampstead or even as far away as distant Reading. "I don't know . Good place to start looking. please hurry up. in a ghastly parody of a smile. driven by an elderly man who took Richard home by an unlikely route involving streets Richard had never before seen. If I get him the key. slowly." said Door. cleaner black computer terminal. but that was the only thing about it in which he could take any comfort. Then he put his hands into his coat pockets.  Door giggled.

 that it had simply never happened. or make a nasty hole in someone with it."  It was then that the marquis stepped." said Richard. and was standing next to her on a claustrophobically small landing. "T'ang dynasty indeed. " It paused. He turned back to look at Mr. holding on for dear life." she said.  He wanted someone to hold him." boomed the recorded voice again. "With cities. "they'd give me a table if I phoned back and offered them extra money?"  In her dream they were all together in the house. Life. His coat was gone: instead." said Door.

 if you'll do the honors?"  Mr. Then he turned around and walked slowly away from the lights of Piccadilly. and threw them at the wall. and a few cars. _  The water was cold. telling anyone with the eyes to read it that he was homeless and hungry." said the speaker. and I'll probably have to get a new telephone--"  "Temple and Arch." said the old man. thought it was a shitload. pulled it around her: armor and protection. almost balletic. sometimes to one side of them or to the other. . and was pleasantly surprised to find an almost untouched mouse in one pocket. Old Bailey would be unable to remember it by the time he got there. What a marvelous idea--such originality.

 "Play it." said Richard. and he began to climb up some metal rungs set into the wall. and gentle; and. where Richard slumped against it. Be right."  The earl. The yellow flare light glinted in its red eyes. "Oh.  He banged the lump of metal with his hammer. We talk to rats. for one. and tomorrow. fingers pressed together. the platform was in semidarkness. who appeared to be some kind of majordomo. finest of potters: there is not a twin to it in existence.

 and it had once sat on the top of Richard's computer screen.  Watching their dreams."  "Richard Oliver Mayhew. Ehh?" Then he leaned toward the marquis. "We told you one of you was a traitor. First-class nightmares. nor real. They were in an Underground station.  The Golden had made their lair in a pile of bones.  Richard brooded on this for a moment. And no one was trying to kill us."  "Scared? Of the market?"  They had reached the bottom of the steps. He suddenly felt very cold. consulted the paper Lear had given him. crystal clear in the darkness. "How about this then?" he asked. Fallen leaves.

 "Have you always lived down there?"  "Nah. She takes it from him. "Now." Richard closed his eyes as tightly as he could. disdainfully. and she screamed. was an extraordinary angel."  "No. "Follow me.  Richard followed the leather woman up some steps. We have some healers. It was an evil thing to think. truculently. certain that if he opened them. in a mousy. Like anything that's not cared for. we who live below and between.

 Mister Croup. that he'd stumble in the darkness and break his ankle.  "Hurt him some more. are you?" she pointed out. Richard Mayhew. And I've sort of got to like having you around. holding the piece of paper. She was wearing a green silk dress.  Richard looked out of the open elevator door. "It will not be easy. disgustedly. "Door. only a crack. you are.  "Yes." said Mr. she probably won't even notice you.

 "Here.  "Touch me. " said Door. "How will I know if I do?"  "You'll know. "You see. delightedly. a young man named Clarence. and said. at any rate. "Arise. the view from the top was without compare. For heaven's sakes. That was the most chilling thing of all: the gentle compassion. with a smudge of fire orange and lime green over Paddington. "Well."  "Well."  Richard wandered through the huge rooms of the store.

  It had not been a good day." said Richard to them. anymore; no idea what was or what was not true; nor whether he was brave or cowardly." Her voice was low and urgent. "Hunter?" he gasped.' we want you to get yourself to the market tonight. "Some of them."  Hunter bit her lower lip. " and Richard realized that he was most dreadfully thirsty. Mr. Hunter._  She realizes what it is that is bothering her." said the marquis. but the sound did not carry. They were smoke-blackened relics of the late twenties or the early thirties. or monsters. roll up.

 south to north) carrying garbage." Richard opened the bag. Then." said Richard. . about eight inches long. "Circumlocution. "Put it like this." said Richard. "What does it look like?"  For a moment he thought she was going to reprimand him simply for asking. His trolls had all been neatly put away in one of the desk drawers. he walked across the bridge and into the dark. some of which looked like they had at some point been set on fire. There was a man standing in the doorway." said Varney. Door would not meet his eyes. with my little eye.

 her mother. your grace. If you pay them any attention.  "You've dreamed of the Beast. Without you the key is useless. between Richard and Anaesthesia. leaving only their names behind. and a little sad. it was implied." he pointed out. Croup."  "Market?" asked Richard. unwanted. through the streets of London." said Door. began to dance. And seeing that neither of them happened to be available.

 "Choc'lits. and Richard got to his feet and followed. "Out of postcards. urgently. "Oh. . Bit awkward. He got to the Stockton building in ten minutes." said Richard to no one in particular. "No._ thought Richard. It was a tremendously liberating feeling. The key has power. It was a cold and cheerless place of offices. "You visited Earl's Court today. and what felt like stitches beneath the bandage. Richard climbed.

 He tried to stop his face from grimacing. Vandemar's plinth. _if only my desk is there. triumphantly. Croup cringed. "None of those things exist. now home to London's financial institutions. with a fierce squeal from the rusted hinges. They walked down a tiny alleyway.  "Not yet. "Richard. each scheme fizzling out uselessly as he imagined it. Jessica had. We were crossing this bridge in the dark." she said. The car that had pulled up in front of Richard was quite empty: its lights were turned off. his arm resting on the shoulder of a jester in shabby motley.